My new middle-weight sport-tourer

[caasland]

    

     Are there exhaust heat deflection panels under the bags?  

Yes.

[Sport-Touring]

[caasland]

Then I'm one of the few that DO like the stock pipes.  In fact, I'm taking them in today to get powercoated.  Still on the fence whether I'll get them done in matte or gloss black though.  Kinda leaning towards gloss.  

Oh, and if the rider's weight is used to classify the bike, then this is definitely a heavy weight.  

On my 2011 the exhausts are blacked out and they blend in more with the bike.

I wonder if the 2011 exhausts will fit your 2015? Have you considered getting a used black pair rather than powdercoating your own?

[DDFZ1]

Back in the 1980's the middle weight class was the 750cc motorcycles.  Every manufacturer had one.
I had a 1981 750cc Kawasaki.  It weighed 500 lb. and made about 60HP.
1100cc motorcycles weighed 600 lb.
Today, 500 lb. motorcycles are 1000cc with at least 100HP.
I would say the FJ09 and Ninja 1000 are middle weight motorcycles.
I have a FZ1, 500 lb. 130HP (modded) and a 14r, 570 lb., 189HP.
The FZ1 feels like a dirt Bike compared to the Ninja pushing around the garage.

[Volfy]

I sure have fund memories of the 80's "middleweights"  Had an '82 Yamaha Maxim XJ650 and later an '86 XJ700.  Those air-cooled inline4 were darn near bulletproof, and with shaft drives about as low maintenance as they come.  They made some 70-80HP and went as fast as the measly suspension (by today's standard) could safely manage.  At 500 lbs or so, the middleweight moniker felt spot on.

Even then, I find the retro trend these day rather amusing.  As much as I liked those old machines, I wouldn't want to be riding them now... not when there are so much better handling and powerful beast - and lighter weight - available these days.  Sometimes, memories are best kept... as memories.

[motrhead]

Even then, I find the retro trend these day rather amusing.  As much as I liked those old machines, I wouldn't want to be riding them now... not when there are so much better handling and powerful beast - and lighter weight - available these days.  Sometimes, memories are best kept... as memories.

 I have one of those old bikes, an 83 or 84 XJ 750 Yamaha...the one with the XJ900 chassis and fairing. I think it was rated around 86 or 87 hp. The chassis is not lacking in any way and it really goes well! Sometimes air-cooled and simple is nice. That V7 Guzzi is still calling me...

[HipGnosis]

 I have one of those old bikes, an 83 or 84 XJ 750 Yamaha...the one with the XJ900 chassis and fairing. I think it was rated around 86 or 87 hp. The chassis is not lacking in any way and it really goes well! Sometimes air-cooled and simple is nice. That V7 Guzzi is still calling me...

I got my Vstar 950 partially because I think it's the perfect balance of old and new tech.  Air cooled V twin with fuel injection and elec. ignition.   Disk brakes, single rear shock and belt drive.
It's STUPID easy to change the oil, and filter now that I'm using auto filters that are longer than the OEM filters.

[DDFZ1]

When I first started riding, I weighed 150 lb.  Then the Government changed the speed limit to 55 MPH making high performance Bikes NOT needed.  I then moved to Colorado and discovered mountain roads at 12,000 feet and a 500 lb. motorcycle with only 60 HP (at Sea Level)  needed for POWER and TORQUE.  I graduated to 1000cc and have been on that size or larger since 1990.  And I gained 40 lb., too.
I really did like Bikes with shaft drive instead of a chain.

[Tortured]

Sharp looking machine !

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Volfy]

When I first started riding, I weighed 150 lb.  Then the Government changed the speed limit to 55 MPH making high performance Bikes NOT needed.  I then moved to Colorado and discovered mountain roads at 12,000 feet and a 500 lb. motorcycle with only 60 HP (at Sea Level)  needed for POWER and TORQUE.  I graduated to 1000cc and have been on that size or larger since 1990.  And I gained 40 lb., too.
I really did like Bikes with shaft drive instead of a chain.

Yap, I rode 650 and 700 through the late '80s and never once thought I needed much more power.  There were a lot more bikes with shaft drive back then.  Many UJMs and even some sporty-ish bikes had them.  These days, it's mostly tourers and some cruisers.